Far and Wide Pt. 2

Message Text

Acts 1:6-11

Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Message Notes

1. Paralyzing Expectations

The wrong expectations can paralyze us from being productive. Jesus laid out clear directives for his disciples but it had not changed their expectations.

How often do you let the truth change your expectations?

James 1:22 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

2. Wrong expectations will cause you to miss what you’ve been prepared for.

Jesus had spent his time with the disciples preparing them to evangelize the world. They had the expectation that they would be ruling with him.

We should take a moment to examine what our experiences have actually prepared us to do and make sure that experience lines up with our expectations.

3. Don’t expect God to do something He’s asked you to do.

The disciples may have thought that if they look up long enough Jesus would come back and they could go together. Jesus equipped them and then left.

Jesus mission on earth was to die for our sins an resurrect victorious. It was always our job to evangelize the world.

4. Empowering Expectations

When I have the right expectations then I am prepared and equipped to do what I have to do.

The empowering expectation is that He has all authority and will never leave me. Matt 28:18-19.

The empowering expectation is that He has given me power to accomplish all He has called me to do.

Acts 1:8

Connect Group Questions

  1. What are some unrealistic expectations you currently have?
  2. When is the last time you allowed truth to adjust your expectations?
  3. Why are the wrong expectation often paralyzing?
  4. Have wrong expectations ever caused you to miss something God had actually prepared you to do?
  5. Have you ever waited on God to do something?
  6. Talk about God’s role and our role in reaching people for Christ?
  7. Talk about a time when you knew what to expect and you were able to accomplish something good?